Winter Is Here

This happy seasonal song is an easy learn for your younger groups. In a world beat style similar to the well-known tune "Africa" by Toto, we straightened out the syncopation in the vocal rhythms to quarter and eighth notes making it easier to sing. Much of the melody is scale-based so there aren't any difficult intervals to trip you up.

The form is straightforward. We start with a chorus leading to verse one. Repeat to bar 5 and do it again, this time to verse two. Back to bar 5 a third time, but now we take the coda. We've been singing unison up to this point but at the coda we add a divisi to part 1. We also drop dynamically to piano and build to forte throughout the next eight bars before repeating back to bar 21. This time we add an optional part 2 as well as claps on beats two and four. And with much enthusiasm, take it home.

In performance, add a few wintry costume touches, like hats, mittens, or scarves. (Coats may be too hot.)

In case it helps, we have isolated the optional lower divisi line from part 1 in the coda and put it online for you.